"No matter how tough the training is, I'll stick with it!"
Shu raised his fists high, cheering himself on.
"Then I'll be watching."
Patting the little one's sword hilt, Kyoya encouraged, "I'm Kyoya, Captain of the 11th Division. If you ever want to become an even cooler Shinigami, you can choose to join my division!"
As he said this, Kyoya turned around and pointed at the number [11] on his back with his thumb, saying to Shu, "The 11th Division is the only one in the Gotei 13 where you can directly challenge the Captain."
"As long as you have enough strength, you can challenge me in front of over two hundred squad members."
"If you win, you can take my place and become the Captain of the 11th Division!"
"Wow, really?"
Shu's eyes sparkled: "Captain Kyoya, can I really become a Captain too?"
"Why not?"
"Everyone should have dreams."
"What if they come true?"
As he spoke, Kyoya extended his right pinky toward Shu.
"Let's make a promise."
"If you want to become a Captain, come to the 11th Division and challenge me!"
"I can promise you this… until the day you defeat me, I won't lose to anyone else."
"But if you can't beat me, you'll have to serve under me in my division for at least a hundred years!"
A hundred years isn't a short time for an ordinary Shinigami.
But for Captain-level Shinigami who can live for over a thousand years, a hundred years isn't that long either.
The reason Kyoya made this promise with 'Amagai Shusuke' was to prepare for the Thousand-Year Blood War over a century later.
The more powerful fighters the Seireitei has, the less damage the Quincies can inflict.
In fact, if the Quincies are suppressed by the Shinigami, it's possible Yhwach might even activate [Auswählen] ahead of time, sacrificing some Quincies to strengthen his Schutzstaffel.
After all, in Yhwach's eyes, even the members of the Schutzstaffel are nothing more than fuel for his ascension to become the [Soul King].
Kyoya wouldn't stop Yhwach from invading the Soul King Palace, as that's part of the Soul King's own script.
Because the Soul King wants to die, and Kyoya wants to be the one to kill him.
Barring any surprises, the [Soul King] in the One Piece Achievement System would undoubtedly be judged as the [King of the World] in the One Piece World… the Moon God Imu! (T/N: The Author added the title Moon God.)
If Kyoya succeeds in killing the Soul King, he'll undoubtedly earn a highest-level achievement: God Slayer.
Perhaps this achievement could serve as the key to breaking through the constraints of the Bleach world, allowing Kyoya to make his final leap.
In the One Piece World, killing Imu would require first dealing with the Five Elders.
At the same time, Imu's ability to command the Five Elders with such obedience means their strength far surpasses theirs.
Frankly, if Kyoya were to actually cross over into the One Piece World, he wouldn't be confident about killing Imu at all.
But in the Bleach World, the Soul King seeks death, seeks liberation, and won't fight back.
Meanwhile, the Zero Division protecting the Soul King would be defeated by the Schutzstaffel.
Kyoya just needs to seize the opportunity and deliver the final blow to the Soul King to complete this achievement.
You could say the difficulty is reduced by more than just a little.
By then, after absorbing this final achievement, Kyoya might not even need the combined efforts of Ichigo, Aizen, or Ishida Uryu to take down Yhwach single-handedly.
"Okay, it's a promise!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Just as Kyoya and Shu hooked pinkies, Gin arrived with seven or eight Shinigami at Kyoya's side.
"Captain Kyoya."
"Kyoya-sama."
"Hmm, good work, everyone."
With a smile at the group, Kyoya pointed at the seven unconscious assassins and said, "These guys disguised themselves as Shinigami and attacked civilians… utterly despicable."
"Lieutenant Ichimaru, take these men to Captain Shihoin of the 2nd Division. Their division is the best at interrogation… see if they can extract any useful information from them."
"And what about you, Captain?"
"I'll escort these civilians to the 4th Division first and check on third seat Kisaragi's condition while I'm at it."
"I might not return tonight, so when you head back to the division, let Rangiku know for me."
"Otherwise, she'll complain that I never tell her anything."
"No problem."
The corners of Gin's mouth rose slightly.
Even if he couldn't beat Kyoya in a fight, at least Rangiku listened to him!
"Bakudo #9, Horin!"
Bringing his thumb and index finger together, a yellow light flickered at Gin's fingertips.
With a flick of his wrist, the light split into several strands, binding all seven unconscious men.
"…"
A scream from one of his subordinates made Kyoya's expression darken.
Turning around, he saw one of the 11th Division's Shinigami touching the sword of an assassin… only for tendrils to burst from the hilt, piercing his arm and greedily draining his Reiatsu.
'Damn it!'
Kyoya cursed inwardly.
In a flash, he appeared beside his subordinate, his right fist coated in pitch-black energy as he slammed it down on the soul-devouring blade.
Boom!
Crack
The internal destruction of Armament Haki shattered the Bakkoto instantly, reducing its writhing tendrils to blackened ash.
"Everyone, be careful!"
While using Kaido to heal his injured subordinate, Kyoya warned the others, "These guys' weapons are very strange. They will absorb and devour a Shinigami's Reiatsu."
"The recent string of Shinigami's deaths might very well be the work of these cursed blades."
"Don't touch them directly. I'll seal them first, then you can secure them as evidence."
"Yes, Captain Kyoya."
"My apologies… this injury is my fault."
Kyoya bowed his head slightly in remorse.
"No, Captain Kyoya, I was the one who wasn't careful enough."
Hearing Kyoya's words, the wounded Shinigami shook his head quickly: "Zanpakuto's abilities and Hollow powers can be unpredictable and deadly."
"'Either crush the enemy before they can react, or analyze their abilities and counter them'… that's what you always tell us, Captain."
"I failed to stay alert during the mission. That's on me, not you."
Kyoya shook his head but said nothing.
Indeed, these were the words he said to the members of the 11th Division.
But Kyoya's purpose in saying this was to reduce the casualties among the Shinigami of the 11th Division.
But this time, it was Kyoya's fault for not noticing that the assassins' weapons were Bakkoto when he knocked them out with Conqueror's Haki.
Before activation, Bakkoto were nearly indistinguishable from Asauchi.
But once awakened, tendrils would extend from the blade, piercing into a Shinigami's body to drain their Reiatsu.
The power of a Bakkoto grew stronger the more Reiatsu it absorbed.
Just like the one wielded by Kisaragi.
Without the Bakkoto, Aikawa would likely have been slightly stronger than Kisaragi.
But after absorbing Kisaragi's Reiatsu, Aikawa was swiftly overpowered in a short time.
However, while Shinigami relied on their Zanpakuto to enhance their strength, something they could use repeatedly as long as they had enough Reiatsu, with no real harm to themselves, the Bakkoto were different.
Even a Captain-level Shinigami, once drained of Reiatsu, would be completely devoured by the blade if they failed to suppress its rampage.
In essence, Bakkoto treated Shinigami as disposable fuel.
After healing his subordinate's injuries, Kyoya let out a sigh of relief.
"Good, it didn't damage your soul's essence."
"Rest for a few days, and you'll recover fully."
"Yes, thank you, Captain."
Patting the man's shoulder, Kyoya stepped forward and personally retrieved the Bakkoto from the assassins.
The moment his hands touched them, the blades attempted to extend their tendrils, seeking to drain his Reiatsu just as before.
But no matter how fiercely they writhed, they couldn't even pierce Kyoya's skin… let alone absorb his Reiatsu.
The other Shinigami watching this scene weren't particularly surprised.
Obviously. If their Captain could be injured by something like this, that'd be downright pathetic.
"Hmph."
Though the tendrils were harmless to him, their grotesque appearance still made Kyoya grimace.
With a cold snort, he unleashed a pulse of Conqueror's Haki.
Immediately, the six Bakkoto in his grasp stiffened, their tendrils recoiling into the hilts as if terrified.
"Bakudo #63, Sajo Sabaku!"
Skipping the incantation, Kyoya summoned golden chains of Reishi that coiled tightly around the cursed blades.
"Gin, take these too. Deliver them to the 2nd Division along with the prisoners."
With both the assassins and the Bakkoto as evidence, Kyoya doubted the Kasumioji Clan could worm their way out of this.
"Understood."
Gin, fully aware of the gravity, drew his Zanpakuto and threaded the chains onto its tip.
Holding the blades in this manner, he and the other division's members carrying the captives swiftly departed for the 2nd Division's headquarters.
"Alright, let's move."
"We'll head to the 4th Division first, so you can see third seat Kisaragi and put your minds at ease."
"Thank you for your kindness."
Kisaragi's wife bowed slightly.
It was true… without seeing her husband in person, neither she nor their child could truly rest.
…
At the 4th Division's barracks, Kisaragi thanked Kyoya with gratitude.
On one hand, he was grateful to Kyoya for saving his life.
Although he lost an arm, Kisaragi felt that he had earned something by being able to survive.